Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Hm. Most movies I see, I can still enjoy them while still thinking about what I'm going to write here. I tried to think about that for this film, but I couldn't. I still don't know what I'm going to write. So, this will be plain, I think.

I will start out by saying that this film is gorgeous. It's so, so pretty.

This movie is long. It's about 2:40. But, I daresay it is quite necessary for it to be this way. It's not unbearable, but it really does feel like a lifetime. That's... Good, right?

The film raises lots of questions, kind of heavy ones. Like, how do you handle the fact that you outlive everybody you know, before you've even had a chance to really live? Born as an old man, Benjamin Button spends most of his time with the elderly, and they all die when he is still very young. However later in his life he's able to have life experiences in a young man's body with the knowledge and wisdom and experience of an old man. Heavy stuff. Kinda depressing. It's a film that redefines the phrase "growing old together.

Wow. Brad Pitt. Man. What a handsome devil. Even when he's old. Good news for him, right? He was, of course, terrific. He showed great maturity in his expressions. His character is faced with the challenge of growing up very quickly, and it's so so perfect, what he does. Cate Blanchett's character Daisy (and Benjamin's great love), is a bit of the opposite. She's selfish and naive, young and carefree. But always she's played with effortless grace. However, I didn't like her character, which made some of the film kind of annoying.

The biggest accomplishment probably has to be when Benjamin is a young boy in an old man's body. He has great curiosity in his expressions, and innocent looks of hurt and confusion. It's heartbreaking to see such unsheltered emotions on an old man's face. I don't know how much is computer and how much is actor. You kind of always feel really sorry for Benjamin throughout this whole film. It's like, jesus christ. Can he get a break? The answer: No. He cannot.

This film is a whole lot of pretty and a bit of substance. But the slow southern drawl of Brad Pitt's narration is a tad cringe-worthy, and reminiscent of Forrest Gump (which I hated). There's so much bittersweetness that I grimace a bit.

In short: This movie is not as amazing as it should be.

Grade: B-

Review: Burn After Reading (2008)

Ah, I finally see this movie, after months of anticipation.

I have to say, I'm just a tad let down. Granted, it's very hard to top No Country For Old Men, and I never expected anything of that calibur, but this film lacks in some areas.

The trailer gives this vibe that Brad Pitt is the main attraction. While that's true in one respect, he doesn't get nearly as much screen time as he deserves. Pitt truly steals the show as an oblivious gym employee who gets caught up in government blackmail. He's frightfully endearing and funny. As if I could be more in love with Brad Pitt.

The rest of the cast is solid. With so many different storylines overlapping, it leaves the viewer wary of what's going on, and it threatens the movie. However, due to some ingenious film work by the Coen Brothers, there are two scenes involving David Rasche and J.K. Simmons which sums everything up nicely and saves the guesswork for the audience. Starts solid and ends solid. The middle is just a little flabby, but altogether, this is worthy of the Coen stamp.

Grade: B